The Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has raised alarm over four car brands that are suspicious in Ghana, following an Interpol alert that Ghana is a hub for stolen cars.
The four car brands are Honda CR-Vs, Ford F-150 pickups, Range Rovers, and Dodge models.
In an intensified crackdown on stolen cars, EOCO said that these four brands account for the majority of cases intercepted.
The international security organization Interpol has flagged Ghana as a growing hub for stolen vehicles, particularly those originating from Canada and the United States.
The Head of EOCO’s Legal Unit, Leo Anthony Siamah, warned buyers to be circumspect on the purchase of such cars and conduct due diligence when buying certain car models.
“There are certain types of vehicles that are suspicious. For instance, the Honda CR-V series, the Ford F-150, the Range Rover, and I think the Dodge Ram. These are four brands that are very high in terms of the number of stolen vehicles we recover. Most of them happen to be these vehicles. So, obviously, if you are going to purchase one of those vehicles, that should be a red flag for you,” he said.
The crime office also noted that its operations are not limited to these models.
“We’ve gone after a couple of Toyota Highlanders and Honda Accords. So, it’s not like we have a preference,” Siamah clarified.
EOCO has also warned against buying “too new and accident-free” vehicles on the Ghanaian market, especially 2023 and 2024 models.
Siamah advised that before buying newer models of accident-free cars, due diligence must be conducted since the Ghanaian market traditionally deals in salvaged or accident-damaged imports.
He urged the public to take advantage of Interpol’s database and other verification systems before making vehicle purchases.
“If you look at one of those vehicles that was recently released, maybe a 2023 model, 2024 model, which is accident-free, it should be a red flag for you. That should point you to doing extra — for instance, go to Interpol to find out whether or not that car’s status is stolen,” he advised.